Equine Sports Medicine

 

Comprehensive Sports Medicine for the Equine Athlete

Whether your horse is competing at the highest level, returning to work after an injury, or simply not performing quite like themselves, identifying the underlying issue is the first step toward an appropriate treatment plan.

At Equine Clinic of Saratoga, sports medicine has been a cornerstone of our veterinary practice since our founding. We work closely with owners, riders, trainers, and farriers to understand changes in your horse’s performance, evaluate potential causes, and develop a plan that supports both your goals and your horse's long-term well-being.

When Your Horse Isn't Performing Like Themselves

Performance changes aren't always obvious. A horse may develop subtle unevenness, resist a particular movement, struggle to maintain a lead, lose impulsion, or simply seem different under saddle. Changes in performance can have many potential causes, and determining what's happening requires a thorough evaluation.

Our veterinarians can help evaluate concerns including:

  • Lameness or changes in way of going

  • Decreased performance or stamina

  • Changes in attitude or behavior while working

  • Difficulty with specific movements or exercises

  • Stiffness or reluctance to move forward

  • Suspected joint, tendon, ligament, or muscle injury

  • Breathing or respiratory concerns during exercise

  • Recovery and return to work following injury or illness

  • Ongoing performance maintenance and preventative care

Our approach is to look at the whole horse—not simply the area where a problem first appears.

A Complete Approach to Diagnosis

Finding the cause of a performance problem often requires more than a single test. Our veterinarians have access to advanced diagnostic capabilities that allow us to investigate orthopedic, soft tissue, joint, and respiratory concerns.

  • A comprehensive assessment of how your horse moves and performs, helping identify subtle changes that may indicate pain or dysfunction.

  • Digital radiography, digital ultrasound, nuclear imaging, and MRI can provide detailed information when additional diagnostic evaluation is needed.

  • Arthroscopy—including standing needle arthroscopy in appropriate cases—allows direct examination of joints.

  • Standing and dynamic exercise endoscopy can help investigate upper airway concerns, while bronchoalveolar lavage and tracheal wash can assist in evaluating lower airway disease.

  • Thorough examinations can help you make informed decisions when purchasing a new equine athlete or establishing a baseline for your horse's ongoing care.

Treatment Designed Around Your Equine Athlete

Once a diagnosis has been established, treatment is tailored to the individual horse, their discipline, their workload, and your goals.

Our goal isn't simply to treat an injury. It's to help your horse return to comfortable, appropriate function while supporting their long-term health and performance.

Treatment options may include:

  • Shock wave therapy

  • Intra-articular therapies

  • Regenerative therapies, including IRAP, PRP, and stem cells

  • Regional limb perfusions

  • Mesotherapy

  • Chiropractic and acupuncture

  • Cold laser therapy

  • Rehabilitation and return-to-work guidance

Expert Care, Delivered to Your Barn

Ambulatory care for your sport horse

Not every concern requires a trip to the clinic. Our ambulatory service provides a wide range of diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic services at farms, stables, and training facilities throughout the area.

Our fully equipped ambulatory vehicles allow us to bring many diagnostic and treatment capabilities directly to your horse, including:

  • Portable cordless digital radiography

  • Ultrasound

  • Standing and dynamic exercise endoscopy

  • Shock wave therapy

  • Routine and orthopedic preventative care

  • Regenerative therapies

  • Regional perfusions

  • Minor surgical procedures

  • Dental care

  • Wellness and pre-purchase examinations

Whether you need to investigate a subtle performance change, manage an injury, or provide routine care, we come to you.

Care for Horses Across Disciplines

Every discipline places different physical demands on the equine athlete. We work with owners, riders, and trainers to understand those demands and evaluate performance concerns within the context of each sport.

Our sports medicine services benefit a wide range of equine athletes:

  • Show Jumping & Hunter/Jumper

  • Dressage

  • Eventing

  • Barrel Racing & Rodeo

  • Polo

  • Cutting & Reining

  • Western Performance

  • Endurance

  • Driving

  • Sport Horse & Pleasure Riding

Whether you're preparing for a competition, managing an established performance horse, or trying to understand why your horse isn't performing as expected, our goal is to identify the underlying issue and develop an appropriate plan for your horse.

Your Horse. Your Goals. Our Team.

Your veterinarian is one part of your horse's performance team. We work collaboratively with you, your trainer, farrier, and other members of your horse's care team to understand what your horse needs and what you're asking them to do.

From the Grand Prix jumper to the trail horse, our goal is the same:
to help your horse perform comfortably and confidently while keeping their health and well-being at the center of every decision.

What our customers are saying

  • “Axel Sondhof is one of the most knowledgeable and intelligent equine veterinarians I’ve worked with. His professionalism, depth of knowledge, and evidence based approach sets him apart from other veterinarians. His understanding of complex cases is exceptional, and I trust his judgment completely.”

    —Christine

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT      OR CALL      518-584-1633